Terminal for electrically heated irons



Feb. 24, U N AL 2,436,753

TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICALLY HEATED IRONS Filed May 22, 1944 f 5 M1 4 39 43 a4 4 as f 20 2a Z 4 I5 I 35 24 24 4s m P 7 mmvrons I 36w FRANK KUHN 4 w/ f BY LAURENCE rumpus a! yw /wlw ATTO RN EY S Patented F b. 24. 1948 TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICALLY HEATED IRONS r Frank Kuhn, Detroit, and Laurence H. Thomas, Birmingham, Mich., assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Application May 22, 194 4, Serial No. 536,792 2 Claims. (Cl. 173-324) 1 The invention relates to terminal constructions for electrically heated devices such as electric laundry irons.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a terminal cord construction. adapted to be attached to the terminals of the iron in a convenient manner by merely inserting the cord and tightening the set screws.

To this end we have provided the construction as hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of an electric iron with certain portions in longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is an end view of the terminal construction of the electric iron with the electric cord attached thereto;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the terminal construction within the housing;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 6; I

Figure'6 is a. section on the line 8-4 of Figure 5.

As illustrated, I is an electric iron of any suitable construction having an electric resistor ll adjacent the sole plate l2 thereof and having terminal strips l4 and I projecting upwardly from the resistor into a housing It at the rear of the handle H. A cover I8 is arranged to be detachably secured to the housing, and the construction as thus far described is similar to that shown in our Patent No. Re. 22,048, March 10, 1942.

In the prior construction the flexible wires of the terminal cord were secured to the terminal strips It and ill by bending the bared ends of the flexible wires around binding screws on each terminal strip.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved terminal construction for the electric iron of our prior patent whereby the flexible cord may be more easily fastened to the terminals of the electric iron. More specifically, it is the object to provide the terminal cord with rigid instead of flexible ends which are held in predetermined relation with each other and are so arranged as to readily engage the binding screws on the terminals.

Thus, as shown, the vertically extending terminal strips l4 and ii are provided with upward extensions l9 and 20, each of which is in the form of a metal strip, the upper end 2| of which is displaced laterally from the plane of the lower poition 22 so as to register with the side opening 23 in the housing It. These extensions are secured and the binding screw 25, the latter extending through a notch 26 in the terminal strip and threadedly engaging the yoke. The extension is furthest from the opening 23 has an aperture 21 in its upper portion through which passes a binding screw 28 threadedly engaging a metal insert 29 molded in the rear face 30 of the housing [6. The upper end of the extension 20, which is closer to the opening 22, extends in a vertical plane to the rear of the plane of the first mentioned extension l9 and has a threaded aperture 3| for receiving a binding screw 32.

The terminal'cord 33 has each of its two conductors 34 and 35 permanently connected to the metal strips 25 and 31 respectively. In order to maintain these two strips in approximately fixed relation to each other, there is provided a molded ferrule 38 surrounding the portion of the cord where the strips are connected to the conductors. This ferrule may be made of a rubber composition or a plastic or other suitable material having electrical insulating qualities and adapted to permit slight flexibility of the strips while maintaining them in approximately fixed positions. Preferably the ferrule has a cylindrical end portion of slightly enlarged diameter forming a, shoulder 40. The strip 38 has-on its lower edge a notch 4| adapted to engage the binding screw 28 and to be clamped against the extension l9 by the head of said binding screw. The other strip 31 is laterally spaced from the strip 36 and is of shorter length, having a notch 42 in its outer end adapted to engage the binding screw 32 and to be clamped by the head of said screw against the extension 20.

With the construction described, the cord may be quickly assembled to the terminals of the iron by merely inserting the end of the cord through the opening 23 and simultaneously or successively engaging the notches in the strips 36 and 31 with the binding screws 28 and 32 respectively and while thus engaged tightening said binding screws. 'The slight flexibility of the ferrule 38 permits the assembler to make whatever slight adjustment is necessary to facilitate the quick engagement of the strips with the respective binding screws.

43 is a flexible sleeve of rubber or flexible plastic composition which may be slipped over the cord 33. It has at one end the slightly enlarged bore 44 adapted to fit over theenlarged end of -the ferrule 28. It also has a flange 45 at the same end for engaging the boss 46 surrounding aseavee the opening 23 in the housing iii. For retaining the sleeve in position there is provided a metal retainer 47 engaging the flange and having prongs 69 extending through notches 09 in the flange and notches es in the periphery of the opening 20 so that they may be clamped on the inner well oi the housing 30. Thus the terminal cord may be siinnly connected to the electric iron and held firmly to the housing 08, relievins any strain on the connecting strips 36 and The sleeve prevents the excessive bending of the electric cord ndiaeent to the electric iron.

With the construction as described, if the electric cord becomes deieetiveit may be quickl removed and a new cord oi identical construction substituted there! 2*. However, in the event that conductor strips respectively to said terminals accessilale when said closure is removed.

a substitute cord having tine terminal construc- 4, v

tion described is not readily available, the ter-- minal construction heroines-lore described lends itself readily to the temporary insertion of an ordinary electric cord. Such. cord may be slipped through the sleeve 02 and the hated ends of the flexible conductors may he elampecl to the terminal strips 96 and in by of. the binding screws 25, it being preferable to first disengage and remove the two extensions 69 end 29 during this temporary emedlency.

What we claim as our invention is: i i

1. The combination with a nounng having an aperture through a side wall thereof and also provideo with a removable closure, electrical terminals within said hil -3 g in sneced planes and in registration with said aperture and an attachable service connection comprising a flexible insulated conductor cord, fluid conductor strips connected to the conductors of said cord, a ferrule 01 molded insulating material-surrounding a portion or said flexible cord and having an ap- 'ertured head portion for the nassege of said conductor strips therethrough to hold the latter in spaced relation substantially corresponding to the spacing of said terminals, a flexible insulator sleeve surrounding said ferrule and extended over a portlonoi said fiexiblezconductor, said sleeve having a portion for fitting into said aperture and a flange adjacent to said portion for abutting against the housing, a fastener having a portion engaging said flange and a prong extending through said aperture and bendable into clinching engegementwith the wall oi said hous- 7 Number 2. The combination with a housing having an aperture boss on a side wall thereof and also provided with a removable closure of terminals within said housing, electrical terminals within said housing in spaced plane and in registration with said aperture and an attachable service connection comprising a flexible insulated con ductor cord, rigid conductor strips connected to the conductors of said cord, 9. ferrule of molded insulating material surrounding a portion oi. said fiexible'cord and having an apertured head portion for the passage of said conductor strips there'through to hold the iatterin spaced relation substantially corresponding to the spacing of said terminals, a flexible insulator sleeve surrounding saicl ferrule and extending over a portion of said flexible conductor, said sleeve having a shoulder abutting the end of said ferrule and also provided externally with an annular flange for abutting against said apertured boss, a fastener having a portion engaging said flange and prong portions extending through the aperture and engaging grooves on diametrically opposits sides thereof, said prongs being bendable into clinching engagement with the inner face of the wall oi said housing, and. clamping screws for securing said rigid conductor strips respectively to said terminals, said screws and said prongs being accessible when said closure is removed.

- t" KUI-IN.

LAURENCE H. THOMAS.

REFWENQES @IITIED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. ewes PATENTS Name Date 2,015,590 Cavanegh et a1 Sept. 24, 1935 2,023,902 Riebel et al. Dec. 10, 1935 2,023,903 Riebel et a1. Dec, 10, 1935 2,125,485 Caldwell Aug. 2, 1938 2,180,399 Clark Nov. 21, 1939 2,209,814: Finger July 30, 1940 2,211,603 Lang Aug. 13, 1940 59 2,367,996 Clark et el. Jan. 23, 1945 

